All-Star Game sidelights

2011 ALL-STAR GAME

PHOENIX, AZ - JULY 12: National League All-Star Justin Upton of the Arizona Diamondbacks waves to the crowd during the MLB All-Star Game Red Carpet Show and Parade at Chase Field on July 12, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. less

PHOENIX, AZ - JULY 12: National League All-Star Justin Upton of the Arizona Diamondbacks waves to the crowd during the MLB All-Star Game Red Carpet Show and Parade at Chase Field on July 12, 2011 in Phoenix, ... more

Photo: Norm Hall, Getty Images

Photo: Norm Hall, Getty Images

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PHOENIX, AZ - JULY 12: National League All-Star Justin Upton of the Arizona Diamondbacks waves to the crowd during the MLB All-Star Game Red Carpet Show and Parade at Chase Field on July 12, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. less

PHOENIX, AZ - JULY 12: National League All-Star Justin Upton of the Arizona Diamondbacks waves to the crowd during the MLB All-Star Game Red Carpet Show and Parade at Chase Field on July 12, 2011 in Phoenix, ... more

Photo: Norm Hall, Getty Images

All-Star Game sidelights

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The buzz from Tuesday's 82nd All-Star Game at Chase Field:

-- There was talk that Jemile Weeks would be Rickie Weeks' pitcher in the Home Run Derby. Didn't happen, but it was Jemile's official capacity, if only to get the A's second baseman credentialed. "It was a loophole to get him in the clubhouse," older brother Rickie revealed to Eavesdrops. "I wanted him to experience all of this."

-- What we never knew about Gio Gonzalez: "I always thought I was going to be in the NBA, but my height never got there."

-- During the red carpet parade, a pregame procession of All-Stars to Chase Field, a Diamondbacks fan ran alongside Bruce Bochy's vehicle and roasted him for not picking Ian Kennedy for the All-Star team. Bochy said, "You should've voted for him." Kennedy was a final-man candidate in the Internet voting.

-- All along the parade route, Bochy heard cheers. Sitting next to him was Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton.

-- Not surprisingly, Brian Wilson's beard was an attention-getter, and he said he has no plan to clip it. "Until I get bored or tired of it, which hasn't come yet - only when you get morning beard, and that's everywhere - it's going to stay." Despite his video game commercials that feature the beard, Wilson said he's not contractually required to keep it. "I can do whatever I want," he said.

-- The Giants are a majors-best 25-12 in one-run games, and Tim Lincecum said, "It's not like it becomes taxing. It becomes ... just familiar. At a time in a game you're up one run, the crowd knows it, and every pitch matters. For me, it's a fun atmosphere to play in."

-- Both All-Star teams took team pictures in the outfield before the game. When it was the NL's turn, the shot was dominated by Giants: players, coaches, a manager, even a bullpen catcher, Taira Uematsu. So many that another shot was taken just of them.